Ambridge police said they received a call shortly after 3 p.m. from a woman who told them her boyfriend, 37-year-old Robert Burke, sent her text messages saying he planned to kill himself. Officers surrounded Burke's home to talk to him, but they said the man started firing.

"While the officers were in the perimeter, they heard two gunshots about 4:14 p.m.," said Ambridge Police Interim Chief James Mann.

Police said Burke was known to have several weapons in the house, including high-powered rifles. Investigators said he also sent another text, threatening to kill officers.

"He stated he was going to take out some police, and then kill himself," said Mann.

Police called in the Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team to help talk Burke out and evacuate several houses nearby. Many residents spent hours on the street, unable to go back home.

"We're just standing here, waiting to get back into our home. We came home and everything was blocked off," said neighbor Grace Zierden.

"We tried to make multiple attempts to contact him by different phones, text messages, to no avail," said Mann.

After five hours, police broke a window in the house, put a camera inside, and found Burke dead on the floor. Investigators believe Burke killed himself.

Police said it appears Burke had been having trouble at work recently. No other injuries were reported.